Ipsaque mediatrice, summe rex, perpetue, Voce pura Flagitamus, da gaudere Paradisi gloria. Alleluia!”[320] The second example is Adam’s famous Sequence for St. Stephen’s Day, which falls on the day after Christmas. It is throughout sustained and perfect in versification, and in substance a splendid hymn of praise. 1 “Heri mundus exultavit Et exultans celebravit Christi natalitia; Heri chorus angelorum Prosecutus est coelorum Regem cum laetitia. 2 Protomartyr et levita, Clarus fide, clarus vita, Clarus et miraculis, Sub hac luce triumphavit Et triumphans insultavit Stephanus incredulis. 3 Fremunt ergo tanquam ferae Quia victi defecere Lucis adversarii: Falsos testes statuunt, Et linguas exacuunt Viperarum filii. 4 Agonista, nulli cede, Certa certus de mercede, Persevera, Stephane; Insta falsis testibus, Confuta sermonibus Synagogam Satanae. 5 Testis tuus est in coelis, Testis verax et fidelis, Testis innocentiae. Nomen habes coronati: Te tormenta decet pati Pro corona gloriae. 6 Pro corona non marcenti Perfer brevis vim tormenti; Te manet victoria. Tibi fiet mors natalis, Tibi poena terminalis Dat vitae primordia. 7 Plenus Sancto Spiritu, Penetrat intuitu Stephanus coelestia. Videns Dei gloriam, Crescit ad victoriam, Suspirat ad praemia. 8 En a dextris Dei stantem, Jesum pro te dimicantem, Stephane, considera: Tibi coelos reserari, Tibi Christum revelari, Clama voce libera. 9 Se commendat Salvatori, Pro quo dulce ducit mori Sub ipsis lapidibus. Saulus servat omnium Vestes lapidantium, Lapidans in omnibus. 10 Ne peccatum statuatur His a quibus lapidatur, Genu ponit, et precatur, Condolens insaniae. In Christo sic obdormivit, Qui Christo sic obedivit, Et cum Christo semper vivit, Martyrum primitiae.” * * * *[321] The last example, in honour of St. Nicholas’s Day, is a lovely poem by whomsoever written. Its verses are extremely diversified. It begins with somewhat formal chanting of the saint’s virtues, in dignified couplets. Suddenly it changes to a joyful lyric, and sings of a certain sweet sea-miracle wrought by Nicholas. Then it spiritualizes the conception of his saintly aid to meet the call of the sin-tossed soul. It closes in stately manner in harmony with its liturgical function. 1 “Congaudentes exultemus vocali concordia Ad beati Nicolai festiva solemnia! 2 Qui in cunis adhuc jacens servando jejunia A papilla coepit summa promereri gaudia. 3 Adolescens amplexatur litterarum studia, Alienus et immunis ab omni lascivia. 4 Felix confessor, cujus fuit dignitatis vox de coelo nuntia! Per quam provectus, praesulatus sublimatur ad summa fastigia.